Peripheral Arterial Thrombosis Related to Commercial Airline Flights: Another Manifestation of the Economy Class Syndrome

Abstract

SUMMARYVenous thromboembolism is a well recognised complication of air travel, particularly on long haul flights.1,2 This has been attributed to relative immobility in cramped surroundings and to dehydration secondary to alcohol consumption and low cabin humidity.3,4Under these conditions thrombosis at other sites would be expected, and indeed myocardial ischaemia is the commonest emergency in commercial flights. Peripheral arterial thrombosis, however, is not reported, even in comprehensive reviews of flying related medical emergencies.5 We report on three patients who developed acute lower limb ischaemia following long haul air flights.

Air Travel and Thrombosis

“…Pulmonary embolism may also be the first manifestation, without any symptoms in the lower limbs 7,9,10 . Most reports involve venous thrombosis in the lower limbs, but there are also reports of cerebral venous thrombosis 11 and arterial thrombosis 12–14 associated with long flights.…”